Fruit-gathering device



C. M. HURD.

FRUIT GATHERING DEVICE.

APPucAn n Into mu: 1, I920.

Patented Jan. 18,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHE. I.

c. M. HURD.

FRUIT GATHERING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1, I920.

Patented Jan. 18, 192 1.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 awoanto ljzffamf UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHAUNGEY ivrqnunnor sari gross, CALIFORNIA.

FRUIT'GATHERING DEVICE.

To all whom if; may concern Be it known that I, Ci-niunonr M. Hum),

a citizen of the United States, residingat fl la-n Jose, 11']. thecounty of Santa Clara and State of Californizc, have invented a, new anduseful Fruit-Gathering Device, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to fruit and nut gathering devices, and moreparticularly to devices of this character adapted to gather nuts andfruit from the grounail surface to which the same have fallen. 1 Q

The primary object of the invention s to provide a device of thischaracter which may be c aerated to ather il'llll? or view which will a'ipear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in thecombination and arrangement of purtsnnd in the details of constructionhereinafter dcscribed and claimed, it being understood that changes inthe precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be madewithin the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spiritof the invention.

Referring to the drawings;-

Figure 1 illustrates a side elevational view of a gathering deviceconstructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 9. illustrates a fragmental detail view of one end of the device;

Fig. 3 illustrates a plan viewof the same;

Fig. 4.- illustrates a sectional view taken on line irief Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 illustrates a fragmental sectional view of one end of the device.

Referring" to the drawings in detail, the body portion of the deviceincludes a trough indicated generally by the reference character 5,which is formed preferably of sheet metal, and includes the side walls 6and 7,

and bottom wall 8.

Formed at the forward extremity of the side members 6 and 7 are thebearing members 9, each of which is provided with an mit the rollershaft 12 to be .the opening 10. i

,or the frame lG, whichis opposed elongated openings 17 to providebearmgsfor the shaft 18 of the roller 19,

Specification of Letters mam. PatentedJan 18 41921 i l i s Applicationfiled June 1,

n. Serial No. 385,702.

elongated opening 10 slotted as at 11 to perpositioned in Disposed atthe uppe fendjof the trough 5 andsecured to the bottom wall 8 thereof,,are the bearing members lfi disposed adacent opposite edges of thetrough in a manner to support the arm 14-, which has its ends extendingthrough the bearing members and connected to the side members 15 shownas having operating at the-upper end of the trough.

.Oneextremity of the shaft l8extends beyond the plane of the side member15 and receives the power pulleyQO, which is keyed or otherwise securedto the shaft to m ove therewith, the pulley being provided for thepurpose of transmitting rotary motion to the roller 19 to cause theoperation of the endless conveyor 21, to be hereinafter more fullydescribed.

This endless conveyor comprises a belt avliich isof a width slightlyless than the distance between the side walls Gfland 7 of the trough, topermit a portion of the belt to move within the trough, to accomplishthe feedingoperation, and as shown, this .belt s PI'OVKlBCl with aplurality of ribs 22 formed; preferably of 'sheepslrin, or felt, but itis to be under 'tood that any suitable soft or flexible mate ..l may beemployed in the construction of these ribs 22; the material of which theribs are formed, should however be such as would not bruise or injurethe fruit or nuts under operation.

The upper end of the trough is closed by the end member that has acurved surface 24 adapted to cam or direct the articles being gathered,downwardly into the mouth of the flexible discharge tube 25, which hasits lower end disposed within a suitable bucket indicated at 26, whichbucket is preferably provided with an opening 27 adapted to receiveasuitable hook not shown, which hook may be carried by a suitablesupporting means carried by the operator. V An apertured' car 28 isformed on the end member 28, and accommodates the bifurcated motorindicated at 31 and which receives the electric energy from any suitablesource, is

supported on the free end of the operating arm 29, which motor carries apulley 32 that has communication with the power pulley 20 through thebelt 33, operating over the pulleys.

Due to the manner. in. which the frame 16 'is supported, it is obviousthat the same will rock with relation to the body portion or trough ofthe device, and in order to restrict such rocking movement, a coiledspring indicated at 84 is provided, which has one of its ends connectedto the frame 16, as at 35, the opposite end thereof being anchored tothe trough as at '86, so that the tension of the spring will normallysupport the frame 16 at right angles to the body portion 5.

It might be further stated that due to the manner in which the roller19'is supported, the roller may move vertically within its bearings'sothat the roller will automatically adjust itself to permit articles ofvarious sizes to pass under the roller, on its passage to the dischargetube 25.

' Disposed adjacent to the forward extremity of the body portion 5 arethe guiding fingers 37 which guide the fruit or articles being gathered,to the forward end of the trough, where the same are engaged by the ribs22. i

Elongated openings 38 are formed in the bottom'wall' S of the trough,which openings are of widths to permit small pieces of dirt or stones topass through the trough, thus eliminating any possibility of smallstones or dirt being fed into the bucket 26.

In the operation of the device, the operator grasps the operating arm29, by the handle portion. 30, and starts the endless conveyer2l'movingthrough the trough. The forward portion of the trough isnowmoved into engagement with the nuts or fruit to be gathered,whereupon the endless conveyer 2]. causes the articles to be fedupwardly, through the trough.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is 1. A fruitgathering device including a body portion, said body portion comprisinga trough, bearing members supported on the trough and adjacent the upperend thereof, a frame having elongated openings formed therein, saidopenings providing bearings, :1 shaft supported within the bearings andadapted to more longitudinally thereof, a roller disposed at each end ofthe trough, an endless conveyer operating over the rollers for movingmaterial through the trough, means for receiving material from thetrough, and means for normally urging the bearings toward the upper endof the trough.

2. A. fruit gathering device including a body portion comprising atrough, a bearing roller disposed at each end of the trough, an endlessconveyer operating over the rollers, flexible rib members disposed onthe conveyer, means at the upper end of the trough for receivingmaterial from the trough, means at the lower end of the trough, forguiding material to the trough, and means for supporting said bearingrollers to permit the hearing rollers to move vertically with relationto the trough.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHAUN CEY M. HURD Witnesses itUTH Armour), RICHARD V. BRESSAM.

